Springboks to host two-Test series against Ireland and historic clash with Portugal
Springboks number eight Jasper Wiese squares off with Ireland prop Andrew Porter.
Rugby World Cup holders South Africa will face Ireland in a two-Test series on home soil next July before taking on a much-improved Portugal side for the first time ever.
The Springboks will also meet old foes New Zealand – presently ranked number three in the world – for internationals in Johannesburg and Cape Town after the Lobos Test.
Rassie Erasmus’ men will take on Ireland in Pretoria and Durban on July 6 and July 13 before the month concludes with that game against Portugal (venue TBC) on July 20.
After back-to-back matches against the All Blacks, Argentina make a return to the Lowveld for the first time in eight years to conclude the Rugby Championship.
The Springboks’ home Test schedule for 2024
Saturday, July 6: South Africa v Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, July 13: South Africa v Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, July 20: South Africa v Portugal (venue TBC)
Saturday, August 31: South Africa v New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, September 7: South Africa v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, September 28: South Africa v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
The Springboks re-emerge from what will have been a 252-day pause between matches when they face Ireland at Loftus Versfeld. A week later the teams reconvene at Kings Park as the Six Nations champions make their first visit to South Africa in eight years.
The Springboks won that 2016 series, 2-1, but since then Ireland have won all three meetings between the teams (and five of the last seven) – most recently in a 13-8 victory in Marseille in a pulsating pool stage showdown at the Rugby World Cup.
A week later, on July 20, the Springboks will play their maiden Test against Portugal, who contributed to memorable matches at the Rugby World Cup with a thrilling draw against Georgia before beating Fiji 24-23 in their final pool match of the tournament.
Fellow World Cup finalists, New Zealand, return for a two-Test series in August and September as part of the Rugby Championship. The Springboks will be aiming for a third successive victory over the All Blacks for the first time since 2009 on August 31.
🇵🇹 @francisaac87 on what facing the Springboks means for Portugal. 👇https://t.co/0Qz7EpZqzw
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) December 8, 2023
A week later the show moves on from Johannesburg to Cape Town where the All Blacks will play at the DHL Stadium for the first time. The teams’ last meeting in the Mother City was a 25-24 defeat for the Boks at Newlands in 2017.
The home Test season concludes at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit for the visit of the Pumas and the Boks’ fifth to the Lowveld venue. They beat the Pumas 30-23 at the ground in 2016 and have a 100% record on the outskirts of Nelspruit with wins over Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand on their other appearances.
The Springboks’ away Test schedule includes two matches against the Wallabies in Australia in August, and an away match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship in September, as well as engagements in Europe in November 2024.
READ MORE: Opinion: A new step for Portugal as Os Lobos face Springboks for the first time